The Hindu : Sport : Butt sparkles in Pakistan’s easy win

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Saturday, Nov 03, 2007
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Sport

Butt sparkles in Pakistan’s easy win

Special Correspondent

Delhi struggles to 213 for nine in a contest that was lively only in patches

— Photo: S. Subramanium

SWEEPING SUCCESS: Salman Butt guided Pakistan to an emphatic victory over Delhi at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: The distinct lack of seriousness among the players from Pakistan and to a lesser extent from those in the local side took its toll on the competitive interest in the one-off warm-up 50-over-a-side game at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

A Friday crowd of over 15,000, mostly from the Walled City, thronged the stands to enjoy cricket that was lively only in patches. In a contest where up to 13 players were allowed to play, as seen in players’ benefit matches, Pakistan won with six wickets and 44 deliveries to spare.

For the record, Delhi struggled to 213 for nine built largely around the fifth-wicket stand of 91 runs between Rajat Bhatia and Shikhar Dhawan. Pakistan made light of Kamran Akmal’s early exit and coasted to victory with Salman Butt showing the way. Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq and Yasir Hameed played the supporting roles well.

Put in on a placid track, Delhi struggled in conditions conducive for the new ball bowlers, Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar. By his standards, Akhtar bowled at a leisurely pace, in three spells, and made no effort to live up to his reputation as a tearaway speedster. Importantly, by completing his quota of overs that cost 46 runs for a wicket, Akhtar showed that he was keen to bowl.

After Gul provided the breakthrough by trapping Gautam Gambhir leg before for four in the second over, Delhi crawled to 46 for four in the 13th over even though the Pakistan pacemen bowled with three to four slips in place. Thereafter, Dhawan and Bhatia came together and helped the home team reach a respectable tally but not without some friendly offerings from the Pakistan bowlers.

Bhatia made 75, including a massive six and seven boundaries, while Dhawan contributed 52 that included a free-hit six off Akhtar and three other hits to the fence. Pakistan, which tried out seven bowlers, managed to restrict Delhi once Bhatia became the third run-out victim of the innings.

Pakistan paced its chase well after losing Akmal early. With Akmal struggling to find form, Butt staked his claim for the opening slot in Pakistan’s ODI squad with an 84-ball 83. After smashing 13 boundaries and a 6 on way to bringing the team well in sight of victory, Butt chose to return to the dressing room.

Delhi’s bowling looked most ordinary. Coach Vijay Dahiya admitted that without medium pacer Ishant Sharma, the team’s attack was weak. “But we are going to take only the positives from this game (ahead of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan starting on Sunday).”

Malik visits Sehwag’s family

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and manager Talat Ali visited Virender Sehwag at his residence at Najafgarh on Friday to condole the death of his father. Sehwag’s father passed away on Tuesday following a heart attack.

After meeting the members of the bereaved family, Malik said, “it was our duty to be with Sehwag’s family in their hour of grief.”

Brief scores: Delhi 213 for nine in 50 overs (Rajat Bhatia 75, Shikhar Dawan 52) lost to Pakistan 215 for four in 42.4 overs (Salman Butt (retired) 83, Misbah-ul-Haq 39, Imran Nazir 34, Yasir Hameed 33 not out).

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